Back in June, Mike Macdonald left no room for confusion when he declared, “Sam’s our starting quarterback.” But when the Seattle skies lit up for the final preseason showdown, he made a bold pivot. Sam Darnold, the main man, was on the sidelines as rookie Jalen Milroe got the nod. That gamble didn’t exactly deliver what the Seahawks were hoping for.

Milroe threw for 148 yards, added a touchdown, and gave a glimpse of his athletic upside. Yet the shine wore off quickly once the ball security issues crept in. Three costly fumbles marred his outing in the 20-7 loss to the Packers. Macdonald didn’t sugarcoat it in the post-game presser, stressing that his rookie must make “taking care of the football” a top priority.

Even worse, the Packers’ defense feasted on the rookie, bringing him down five times. That many sacks raised questions about his ability to handle pressure in a live NFL pocket. But Macdonald isn’t closing the door on Milroe. In fact, he doubled down, telling reporters, “We’re going to have plays for Jalen in game plans, and he’s going to rep those with the 1s. However we build the package for him going into the games, he needs those reps in walk-thru and full speed.” Clearly, the rookie remains part of Seattle’s offensive blueprint, even if his path is rocky.

And there are some contexts to keep in mind. Before that Green Bay matchup, Milroe hadn’t seen much live action. Across two preseason contests, he totaled just 107 passing yards and 56 rushing yards while sitting behind both Darnold and Drew Lock. For a third-string quarterback, limited reps were always going to be part of the story.

However, Mike Macdonald admitted this final tune-up carried weight for the rookie. He underlined the value of the experience by saying, “I think it’s definitely worth it to get him out there and have this experience. He’s definitely going to be able to build off this in the future.” And for Milroe, the message is clear: the learning curve is steep, but the head coach is willing to give him the runway. Now it’s up to him to prove he can repay that faith.

Mike Macdonald wants competition in the QB room

For Sam Darnold, the move from the Minnesota Vikings to the Pacific Northwest came with both opportunity and pressure. After shining in the playoffs last year, expectations followed him to the Emerald City. But as Chris Simms pointed out, “It’s going to be interesting to see what Sam does coming from Minnesota, going to Seattle. Leaves Kevin O’Connell now with a new offense, new coordinator, all that kind of stuff.” Simms didn’t stop there, noting the rise of Jalen Milroe: “Jalen Milroe looked really, really good over the weekend. So I have Milroe replacing Darnold by week seven… Jalen Milroe is the kind of guy that’s going to get the fan base just frothing at the mouth.” That sentiment sums it up—the veteran may be QB1 today, but his grip depends heavily on how he starts the season.

At the same time, the margin for error is slim. In fact, as one coach put it bluntly, “The tolerance for mistakes is small.” That’s been the energy inside Seattle’s quarterback room this summer. Every practice snap feels like a test for Darnold as he works through Macdonald’s new system, builds chemistry with younger receivers, and adjusts behind a shifting backfield. Meanwhile, Milroe keeps stacking moments in camp that push the competition forward.

Already, some league voices expect this story to have a short shelf life. As one executive told Mike Sando, “I think Sam starts one year, and they go with the young kid.” The numbers back the stakes: Darnold is coming off a Pro Bowl season with 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, but his $100.5 million contract allows Seattle an exit after one year at $37.5 million. On the other side, Milroe’s dual-threat spark—like his 61 passing yards and 38 rushing yards in the preseason opener against the Silver and Black—adds weight to the theory that he’ll see action sooner rather than later.

Ultimately, the question stretches beyond who takes the first snap. The Seahawks’ offense is still forming its identity with a rebuilt line and young weapons. If Darnold holds steady, Seattle can rely on his experience to stay playoff-relevant. But if he falters, Macdonald could hand the reins to Milroe earlier than expected, reshaping the 12s’ season in real time.